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UCmeNdc

(9,601 posts) Thu Jan 2, 2020, 01:12 PM Jan 2020

McConnell Won't Allow Witnesses In Senate Trial Because Evidence Could lead to a Conviction

McConnell Won’t Allow Witnesses In Senate Trial Because They Could Mean Conviction

Mitch McConnell is still refusing to describe how the Senate trial on the impeachment of Donald Trump will be structured. However, The New York Times reports that the Republican leader is clear on one point: no witnesses or documents allowed.

In just the few days since Trump was impeached in the House, additional evidence has appeared concerning his monthslong attempt to extort Ukraine into manufacturing dirt for use against one of his potential opponents in the 2020 election, Vice President Joe Biden. That includes emails showing that Trump blocked military assistance to Ukraine just minutes after his phone call with the Ukrainian president; Office of Management and Budget officials admitting that Trump’s action was illegal; and White House attorneys cooking up a theory that it was all just fine because Trump is genuinely above the law. This new information, and the fact that Trump blocked the most critical witnesses from appearing before the House, are really good reasons that there should be witnesses at Trump’s Senate trial.

But according to the Times, McConnell is nixing any possibility of witnesses, and has warned other Republicans that allowing any witnesses to speak would provide “an opening for uncertainty during the trial.”

It’s worth taking a moment to understand what McConnell means by this. If there’s anything that can be said about the trial at the moment, it’s that everything about it is uncertain. There’s no information about its length, about the rules under such it will be conducted, or about any other aspect of it. McConnell has even floated the idea of bringing in some of Trump’s most vocal supporters in the House as kind of special advisers to the Senate, which would be a genuinely unsettling action.

https://crooksandliars.com/2019/12/mcconnell-won-t-allow-witnesses-senate

20 replies

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McConnell Won't Allow Witnesses In Senate Trial Because Evidence Could lead to a Conviction (Original Post) UCmeNdc Jan 2020 OP

McConnell; No witnesses or evidence will be allowed in the Senate trial because that ... Botany Jan 2020 #1

Then No Trial aeromanKC Jan 2020 #2

Absolutely...hold out madam speaker.. turtle has spoken!! Thekaspervote Jan 2020 #16

Obviously, a cover-up kentuck Jan 2020 #3

And a mountain of excellent campaign 2naSalit Jan 2020 #12

In that case, the articles should be held in the House. CousinIT Jan 2020 #4

or when the next Senate is sworn in Sherman A1 Jan 2020 #8

Yup. 2naSalit Jan 2020 #13

I'd hope we'd have a new POTUS at that point. NurseJackie Jan 2020 #19

Can they attach documents and the house witness testimony to the impeachment articles? cbdo2007 Jan 2020 #5

It means McConnell is a traitor to democracy, his elected position... Guilded Lilly Jan 2020 #6

HAH - evidence would lead to conviction - that says it all!1 UTUSN Jan 2020 #7

The Rethug Party and all it's Lacky's Wellstone ruled Jan 2020 #9

Witnesses would make REFUSING to convict more embarrassing. Hortensis Jan 2020 #10

Despite evidence to the contrary, etc., moscow mitch and his cronies will still find rump... SWBTATTReg Jan 2020 #11

Now is that transparency or what? 2naSalit Jan 2020 #14

Wow! "an opening for uncertainty during the trial" patphil Jan 2020 #15

Moscow Mitch tiptonic Jan 2020 #17

Just as people warn that dump will explode when cornered, BlancheSplanchnik Jan 2020 #18

And even if it doesn't lead to conviction StarfishSaver Jan 2020 #20

Botany

(70,614 posts)

1. McConnell; No witnesses or evidence will be allowed in the Senate trial because that ...